Pneumatic controller.



J`. L. OSBORNE.

PNEUMATIC CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2|. |917.

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The present invention relates to means for controlling the operation of pneumatic or `iuiloader valves ofair compressors. Such devices o era'te to open a port or valve at some pre eterminedreceiver pressure, allow ing the air under pressure to pass from the receiver to the. unloader in order to stop compression, afterwhich, as there is no air being delivered to the receiver by the leempressor, the pressure will decrease either fast or slow according to the demand, and when j the pressure has decreased to a point where it is desired to reload the compressor and resume compression, the pressure closes the valve or port from .the receiver and 'opens another pont or valve to the atmosphere, exf hausting the air'in the unloader and reloading the machine. v v

In unloader or relief devices 'of air cornpressois it is desirable, prior to the time the predetermined receiver pressure is reached, that the motoiof the unloader or relief device be subjected only to atmospheric pressure, and when the predetermined receiver` pressure is attained, that the full receiver pressure be exerted on .the motor of the unloader or relief device to insure its-complete .and positive operation. It is also desirable,

when the receiver pressure has decreased' to# some certain amount below the predetermined receiver pressure, that the.'v motor lof the unloader or relief devicebe abruptly relieved of the receiver pressure and again be subjected only to the atmospheric pressure that the motor may positively and com-v pletely -returnlto the position such motor was predetermined presv l valve '19, which shall be knownhereinafterin. prior to the time the sure was attained. A

An object of this invention-is to provide a v controller or pilot valve, the name by which it is most commonly known, to bring about these desirable results inthe' operation of speomoaun or mais Patenti application and my ai, 1917.. semi ira-176,627.

or example, as relief-devices nnl'oader,

Ythe closing movement of t and quickly taken apartfor repair'or cleaning withoutdisturbin the pipe connections leading into or'from t e controller.'

o. these and other ends, the invention consists of certain of arts al1 of which will be hereinafter de` scri ed, the novel features being ypointed out l in the appended claims.-

In the drawings Figures 1, Zand 3 show axial, sectional views through the valve, Fig. 1 showing the A valve closed or inthe position which it occupies when the pressure in the receiver is below the predetermined amount,

parts andcombinations y retenteajiienerieieg the unloaderfvalves,ori-relief'devicesof air compressors and like devices, and also'tol provide a construction whichmay be easily ig; 2 illustrating the position which the valve occupies when the valve is open to connect thereceiver to the sition of the valveduri the first part of beforel the opening of the exhaust;

ig. 4 is a section ont e line 4-4, Fig.'2;

Fig. 5 is a 'section on the line 5--5, Fig. 3. In the illustrated embodiment of vention, there is provided a valve casing- 10, having a main cylindrical bore opening at oneend of the casing, said -open end beingl closed by an end or cover plate 11 secured in position by bolts 1.2 which e age with va flange-13 on the casing 10. he opposite end ,of the casing 10 is provided with areduced portion '14 having a cylindrical bore of less diameter than that-of the main portion 10 of the casing, the reduced portion-being' externally threaded and engaged by internal threads onl a. cap 15. An inlet pipe 16v connects with a source of' supply such as a greceiverg` and leads, byway of a port 17,- to

e inlet valve, and

7o motor of the relief valve or and Fig. 3 illustrating the po- Within the casing l0, 'and to` one'side of' the annular chamber 18, operates a piston or as an i let valve. This valve'is ,preferably of cup formation and fits slidably the interior'wall of said casing '10 with its closed end tapered or beveled at 20, and lying,

when the valve is in a closed position, oppo- Slte the annular chamber 18, so that the higher or inlet pressure may be communicated to this cone-shaped or ressure-receiv-- ing face 20 in order to shi t the valve 19 away from its seat and toward the reduced end 14 of the'casing 10.

Also operating within the cylinder 10 is` a valve 27, to be known hereinafter as the exhaust valve and preferably in the form of an open-ended iston or member, slidably fitted in the cylinder l10, with the end adjacent the annular chamber 18 forming a pressure face 28. Also formed on this end of the exhaust valve is aseat' 42 with which the tapered pressure face 20 of the inlet valve coperates to, close the interior ofthe vexhaust valve to the chamber 1'8. The other A an annular groove 33 i-n proximity to the enlargement 30. When the annular enlargement on the exhaust valve 27 is moved away from the valve seat 30, the -interior of the exhaust valve 27 communicates with the atmosphere byjway of the ports 32 and the annular grooves 33, but, when the annular enlargement 29 engages the seat 30, a communication to the ports 32 is closed. The

`extreme or outer end 34 of the exhaust valve 27 acts as a pressure face which has a greater area than the pressure receiving face 28 for a purpose to be hereinafter set forth. A spring 35 abuts, at one end, the wall 11, While its other end engages a shoulder 36 within the exhaust valve 27. This spring tends to move the enlargement 29 on the ex-v.

haust valve toward the ports 32, under certain conditions which will be hereinafter set forth. At the end of the casin 10 there is provided an annular chamber 37, and the head 11 has spacing means 38 thereon which holds the exhaust valve 27 in a osition where it cannot close this chamber 3 to the interior of theexhaust valve 27 The chamber 37, by way of a port 39, connects with the passageway 40 leading to the outlet 41 which connects with the relief device, unloader valve, or other device.

A counterpressure mean-s acts on the inlet valve 19 to move the latter to closed position, said means preferably comprising a spring 22, which, in this instance, is of helical formation, having one end surrounding a centering projection 2,3 arranged on the inside of the cap 15, andforming an adjustable abutment for one end of the spring.

The other end of the spring surrounds a loosely mounted centering. devicel 24, and abuts the shoulder 25 on said device, the device being arranged within la hollow portion 26 on the plunger 21.

The hollow portion 26v on the plunger 21' is a piston which is slidably fitted in engagement with the reduced portion 14 of the casmg 10 to relieve the inlet valve 19 of the force-.0f the counterpressure means under certain ,conditions hereinafter set forth. This piston will be known hereinafter as the auxiliary motor. y

A by-pass 43.is.provided in the casing 1 between the interior of the exhaust valve, 27 andthe cup face of the inlet valve 19, this vley-pass 43, in this instance, forming a continuation of the passageway '40. An anfnular chamber 44 may be provided at the junction of the casing 10 with the reduced portion 14, and into this chamber 44 the bypass 43 leads. This arrangement permits.

the pressure on the opposite faces ofthe inlet valve 19 to be equalized at certain times for a purpose which will hereafter appear. Also by this arrangement fluid pressure may be communicated to the exposed faces of the piston or auxiliary motor, and in this wajT the action of the cou terpressure spring 22 on the inlet valve 19 guild the exhaust Valve 27 may be relieved,` und( rA certain conditions, as Willbe hereinafter set forth.

j Operation. When the predetermined pressure, acting on the exposed area 20 ofthe inlet valve 19,

19, not exposed tot e pressure before the sllght opening of the inlet valve 19, causes an abrupt opening or pop effect on the inlet valve 19. Instantly the pressure in the chamber, formed by the hollow exhaust valve 27, becomes equal to the predetermined pressure so that the pressure is equal on both ends of the exhaust valve 27 thus permitting the spring 35 to move the beveled annular enlargement 29 into engagement with the corresponding seat on the ring 31 to close the exhaust opening or port to the atmosphere. Simultaneous with the movement of the exhaust valve 27 toward the seat-on the ring 31, the enlarged annular portion 29 of the exhaust valve 27 is moved from its sea-t on the projection 38 on the cap 11, thus exposing the area of the enlarged part to the predetermined pressure, and as this area is greater than the area 28, the pressure tends to move and to hold the exnegarle l haust valve 27 to the seat or ring 31. The

different parts are then in the positions shown in Fig. 2. In these positions, the fluid under pressure will ow through the exhaust valve 27, the annular slot between the enlarged end 29 and the projection on the cap 11, the opening 39, the passageway 40, and the connection 41, to themotor of the relief device or unloader, to the chamber 44 formedby the hollow or culplshaped inlet valve 19, and, actingupon t iary motor 26, the exposed area of which is somewhat greater than the area 20 of the inlet valve 19 before opening, relieves the inlet valve 19 of the force exertedy by the counterpressure means 22. The reason for relieving theinlet valve' 19 and the exhaust valvel 27 from the force exerted by the counterpressure means 22 will be apparent whenl .We consider that the pressure is now equal on both ends of the inlet valve 19, and this would permit the counterpressure means 22 to close the inlet valve 19, i the auxiliary motor were not provided to fprevent this from occurring.

The advantage of this construction is that a very decided pop-valve effect is provided upon the opening of the inlet valve 19, and yet the diiierent members have been brought back to a nearly balanced condition for the reyerse action or the closing of the inlet valve 19 4and the openingI of the exhaust valve 27. `v

It is to be understood that the inlet valve 19 opens at some predetermined pressure, andclosesl and opens the exhaust valve 27 with a fixed decrease below the predetermined pressure at which the inlet valve 19 is opened. With' some certain decrease commensurate with the area of the auxiliary motor 26 and the counterpre'ssure means 22, the inlet valve 19 is moved into the pos1t1'on shown in Fig. 3 where 4it is in engagement with the seat 42 on the exhaust valve '27 and closes the opening into the chamber formed by the hollow exhaust valve 27 and at the same time moves the annular enlargement .29 of the exhaust valve` 27 slightly away from the seat 30 on the ring 31, thus effecting a slight opening to the atmosphere which causes a decrease in the pressure beyond the inlet valve 19, allowing the higher pressure in the annular groove 18 and the receiver to act on the area 28 ofthe exhaust valve 27 thereby abruptly moving the exhaust valve 27 and the annular enlargement 29 away from the seat 30 on the ring 31, thereby establishing an opening to the atmosphere by means of the exhaust openings 32. This permitsthe pressure 1n the motor of the relief device or unloader to pass to the atmosphere through the connec-I.

u tion 41, passageway 40, opening 38, and the annular groove 37, and also to exhaust the vpressure from the chamber formed by the `inlet pressure so that the to closed '.iliary motor of its actuating Aforce and per-- mittmg the full force of the counterpressure means to be exerted on the inlet valve 19. This holds the latter in engagement with the seat 42 on the exhaust valve 27 during' the opening movement of the exhaust valve, and the escape of air from the chamber formed b the exhaust valve 27 by means of minute s ots on the vaceof the projection 38 of the ca 11.

What I cllaim as m invention and desire to lsecure by Letters atent is 1. A pneumatic controller comprising a casing having an inlet, an outlet, and an exhaust, an exhaust valve having a passage therethrou h to establish communication between the lnlet and the outlet, and an inlet valve arranged to close said passage.'

2. A pneumatic controller comprising a casing having an inlet, anoutlet, and an exhaust, an open-ended exhaust valve rforming a communication between the inlet and the outlet, and an inlet valve arranged to close said communication and to move the exhaust valve to open the exhaust.

3. A pneumatic controller comprising a casing having an inlet, an outlet, and an exhaust, an exhaust valve for the exhaust, a spring acting to close said exhaust valve, an inlet yalve'having a pressure face exposed to the valve may be opened by pressure thereon, and counterpressure meansfor moving said inlet valve position and for opening thel exhaust. v f

4. A pneumatic controller comprising a casing having an inlet, an outlet, and an exhaust, an exhaust valve for closing the exceA haustl having a passage therethrouh form- 'ing a communication between the lnlet and .the outlet, andan inlet valve arranged to close said communication, the exhaust valve having two faces, o'ne lexposed to the inlet pressure and the other exposed to the'outl'et 110 exhaust, an exhaust valve vfor the exhaustl having a passageway forming a communica- .tion between the inlet and the outlet and also. having two faces, one exposed to the inlet pressure and the other one-exposed 'to the outlet pressure, the latter having a larger area than the former, a sprin acting in opposition to the pressure on t e face exposed to the inlet pressure, an inlet valve arranged to close said passageway, and

^ means acting on the inlet valveto move the latter toward the exhaust valve to close the passageway.

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-- inlet valve having al ressure face su Ject sure means :for closing the valve, and means for relieving the valve of the force exerted 6. A pneumatic controller comprising a casing having an inlet, an outlet, and an'ex'- haust, an exhaust valve for the exhaust having a passageway forming a communication' between the inlet and the outlet and also having two faces, one exposed to the 1nlet pressure and the other, one exposed to the outlet pressure, a spring acting 1n opposition to the pressure on the face exposed to the inlet pressure to close 'the valve, an 1nlet valve arranged to close said passageway,

and counterpressure means acting on the,

inlet valve tomove the latter toward the exhaust valve to close the passageway, the

.inlet valve having a face exposed to the inlet pressure when sald inlet valve is closing the passageway throu h the exhaust valve so as to elect the initlal opening of the inlet valve..

7 A pneumatic controller comprisin an to inlet pressure for e ecting the opening of the valve, counterpressure means for closing the valve, and means controlled by the inlet "valve and relieving the inlet valveof the force of the counterpressure means after the 1nlet valve is open.

8. A pneumatlc controller comprising an inlet valve havin a pressure face to effect the opening of t e valve,I and alsohaving an opposed pressure face to produce a balanced action in the valve after the movement of the valve to open position, counterpres by the counter'pressure means after the valve is open.

9. A pneumatic controller comprisin an inlet valve, havin a pressure face for e ecting the opening o thevalve, and an opposed ressure face to produce a balanced action 1n the valve after the latter is opened, coun- "terpressure means for closing the valve, and

to the spring having a face exposed to the inlet pressure after the opening of the valve to relieve the valve of the force exerted by the spring after the valve is open.

11. A pneumatic controller comprising a .casing havin an inlet, an outlet, and an exhaust, an ex aust valve for closing the exhaust, an inlet valve arranged to engage the exhaust valve and having a pressure face to produce the opening of -the inlet valve, counterpressure means for closing the inlet means valve and opening'the exhaust valve through.

the engagement of the inlet valve with the exhaust valve, and an auxiliary motor for relievmg the 1nlet and the exhaustvalve of the force exerted by said counterpressurel means, after the inlet valve is opened.

12. Apneumatic controller comprising a casing having an inlet, an outlet, and an exhaust, an exhaust valve for closing said exhaust, an inlet valve arranged to engage the exhaust valve and having a pressure face` to effect the opening ofthe inlet valve, a bypass connecting the opposite face of the inlet vvalve with the outlet side of theinlet valve so that the same pressure may be communicated to opposite sides of theinlet valve to balance the-latterv after the inlet valve is open, and counterpressure means tending to move the inlet valve toward the exhaust valve to close the inlet valve and o en the exhaust.

13.- A pneumatic control er comprising a casing having an inlet, an outlet, and an exhaust, an exhaust valve for the exhaust having a passage therethrough for establishing communication between the inlet and the outlet, means for closing the exhaust valve, and an inlet valve arranged to close the passageway through said exhaust valve and to engage the exhaust valve to move the latter rom its seat.

A pneumatic controller A,comprising a' `caslng having an i'nlet, an outlet, and an exhaust, an exhaust valve for the exhaust,

means for moving the exhaust valve to closed position, and an inlet valve arranged, to cut off vcommunication between the inlet and the outlet and engaging the exhaust valve to move the latter to open position.

15. A pneumatic controller comprising a casing having an inlet, an outlet, and an exhaust, an exhaust valve for the exhaust, means for closing said .exhaust valve, an inlet valve arranged ,'to `cut, ol4 communication between the inletA and the outlet and having a pressure face by which the inlet valve may be opened by pressure thereon, counterpressure means tending to move the inlet valve to close the same and to open the exhaust, against the action of the closing means, and an auxiliary motor for relieving the first two valves of the force exerted by the counterpressure means.

16. A pneumatic controller comprising an inlet valve havin a pressure face toeilect the opening of t e valve, a spring-pressed piston acting on said valve to close the same, the piston having al face in communication with the pressure, which opens the inlet f to close the exhaust and having` two opposed faces one by which it is held open and the other by Which it is closed, an inlet valve for closing the passageway through said eX- haust valve having'a pressure face by which the said inlet valve'is opened, and a springpressed piston for closing the inlet valve and moving the exhaust valve to open position, said piston having a pressure face exposed to pressure upon the opening of the inlet valve, so that the inletevalve and the exhaust valve are relieved of the force eX- erted by the spring-pressed piston upon the opening of said inlet valve.

JOHN L. 'OSBORNE 

